ZIL-4520 is one of the most powerful dump trucks of the Likhachev Plant

During the existence of the Soviet Union, the ZiL plant mainly produced medium-duty gasoline trucks. Of course, the designers also had enough progressive ideas that corresponded to modern times, but they were not allowed to turn around, especially in the 70-80s.


The ZIL-4520 model became the most powerful dump truck of the Likhachev Plant. Our story today is about her.

prehistory

Most of all, KamAZ “spoiled the blood” of the Likhachev Plant. He was ordered “from above” to hand over all the documentation regarding the promising cabover truck. Diesel, by the way!


Yes, KamAZ-5320 was developed by ZiL specialists. They almost brought the model to mass production and suddenly were left with nothing. Meanwhile, the country needed heavy trucks.

I had to make do with what was left. Fortunately, at the Likhachev Plant they managed to develop the ZIL-70 in the first half of the 133s. But the “tops” still doubted that the enterprise did not need this truck when the ZIL-170 was approaching. It was he who was that diesel cabover car, subsequently transferred to KamAZ. I had to work with what I have.

In 1993, after the collapse of the USSR, the diesel ZIL-4520 appeared. This is a powerful construction dump truck that can travel on any type of road. The truck was developed in cooperation with the Mytishchi Machine-Building Plant.

Model used:

✅ In careers
✅ At construction sites
✅ In the service of public utilities, where they were transported with snow, garbage and asphalt

ZIL-4520 was produced until 2000. The model is now found only in the most distant corners of the country. It's not that it is uneconomical, it's just that the resource of these trucks has long been depleted, and it is difficult to get spare parts.


Before starting a conversation about the ZIL-4520, we should talk about the Mytishchi Machine-Building Plant. ZiS / ZiL has always cooperated with this enterprise.


It’s hard to believe now, but in the 70s and 80s, MMZ converted 200 cars a day to the ZIL-130 chassis.

Features

ZIL-MMZ-4520 was created on the basis of the model with the index 133D42. Interestingly, the body of the dump truck is similar to the one that was installed on the KamAZ-55111. Only there it is produced by the Neftekamsk plant.

By the way, there is a ZiL-4514 - it has a 100% similar body. MMZ dump trucks are distinguished by a trough-shaped lower part, while those of KamAZ trucks are more angular, similar to a bucket.


The body of the ZIL-4520 has characteristic bevels on the sides. This is done specifically to ensure that bulk cargo slides easily during unloading, even in winter.

Several dump trucks were produced on the ZIL-133D42 chassis:

✅ 4520 is the most popular
✅ 4514 - with a body like KamAZ
✅ 4516 - agricultural version with the possibility of unloading on three sides

Thanks to diesel engines, trucks were popular not only in the years of production, but also for 10 years after that.

Cabin

ZIL-4520 is not like the classic Zilki. He received the cabin of the latest generation - specific and square. Most truck drivers do not like it, despite the improved visibility due to the glass area. They agree that the cockpit of an ordinary ZIL-133 looks much more harmonious.


There are three places inside. The driver's seat is separate, sprung. Hardness can be adjusted. The passenger seat is double, no frills. No wonder - it's a working car.

Мотор

The engine is the main advantage of the ZIL-4520. The dump truck has a simple V-shaped motor of the ZIL-645 series under the hood. This power unit is interesting, if only because it has been developed by the designers of the Likhachev Plant since 1972.

The motor could not be finalized for a long time, because the engineers had no experience with heavy fuel engines at all. It was necessary to attract specialists from NAMI and YaMZ. To produce this series of power units, ZiL built the Yartsevo Motor Plant.


Full-scale production of diesel engines began only in 1991. Before that, about 9 thousand ZIL-5 engines were assembled in 645 years.


The ZIL-645/6451 engines had a working volume of 8,74 liters and a power of 185/170 liters. With. Sometimes there were units of 9,56 liters. for 204 l. With. This modification received the index 6454.

The motors did not differ in particular reliability. At first they were simply unfinished, and after the “perestroika” and, especially, the collapse of the USSR, the quality of workmanship fell sharply. Although they constantly worked on the engine itself, eliminating design flaws.


At first glance, it is not clear why the modification of the ZIL-6451 engine has a power of 15 liters. With. below, although it appeared later. It's simple - this is a motor made with an eye on the military, it is multi-fuel. That is, the power unit is able to move on any type of fuel.

Other specifications

Paired with the ZIL-4520 engine is a manual gearbox. It is nine-speed with synchromesh. The clutch is single-disc, hydraulic, there is a pneumo-hydraulic booster that makes it easier to work with the pedal.

The drive is 6x4, there are inter-wheel and inter-axle differentials, the latter with a lock to increase cross-country ability. Steering - with hydraulic booster. Brakes drum on all wheels. For a universal dump truck, this is the norm, they better protect the mechanisms from dirt and damage getting inside.


Thanks to the diesel engine, the carrying capacity was increased to 10,5 tons. Of course, next to three-axle models from MAZ or KAMAZ, this is not enough, so closer to 2000, the demand for ZIL-4520 fell catastrophically.

Reviews

Drivers who happened to work on a truck note a number of features inherent in it. For example, ZIL-4520, equipped with a MMZ dump body, is more reliable than a model with an index of 4514. Recall that there is a body from KAMAZ. The quality of metal and welding at MMZ is a level higher.

Thanks to the chassis with a margin of safety, the ZIL-4520 is capable of carrying 15 tons of cargo. This is almost 50% more than it should be according to technical characteristics. The drivers noted that this should not be abused, but, if necessary, the car can handle it.

Thanks to the presence of three axles, the truck is more stable than models with a 4x2 wheel arrangement - this is important if you have to work in difficult conditions where it is not easy to find a flat area. Drivers note the high maneuverability of the car compared to "classmates".


The main disadvantage of the ZIL-4520 is the difficulty in finding parts. The model has not been produced for almost 23 years, and the Likhachev Plant has long since died.

There are also complaints about the tailgate lock. The fact is that the engineers did not provide for its opening from the cockpit - you have to get out. Many joke that this was done on purpose so that the driver could warm up.

Taken as a whole, the ZIL-4520 is a fairly reliable and economical car. A promising generation that was never destined to become popular. If this model appeared 10 years earlier, that is, in the early 80s, it could compete with the ZIL-130. Alas, history decreed otherwise.